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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with abnormal echocardiographic aortic elastic properties and

Henriette Gavallér1, Róbert Sepp, Miklós Csanády

  • 12nd Department of Medicine and Cardiology Centre, Medical Faculty, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.

Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.)
|August 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients exhibit abnormal aortic elastic properties, including increased stiffness and pulse-wave velocity. These vascular changes are also seen in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Genetics
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiac condition characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
  • Vascular alterations, such as microvascular and endothelial dysfunction, are commonly associated with HCM.
  • Ascending aortic elastic properties and arterial stiffness are crucial indicators of cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate echocardiographic ascending aortic elastic properties in HCM patients.
  • To assess arteriograph-derived pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (Aix) in HCM.
  • To compare these vascular parameters between HCM patients, hypertensive patients with LVH, and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Echocardiographic measurements of systolic and diastolic ascending aortic diameters were performed.
  • Aortic elastic properties (strain, distensibility, stiffness index) were calculated using aortic and forearm blood pressure data.
  • Arteriograph-derived PWV and Aix were measured in 38 HCM patients, 20 hypertensive patients with LVH, and 23 controls.

Main Results:

  • HCM patients demonstrated significantly increased aortic stiffness index, PWV, and Aix compared to controls.
  • HCM patients showed significantly decreased aortic strain and distensibility compared to controls.
  • Hypertensive patients with LVH exhibited similar alterations in aortic elastic properties as HCM patients.

Conclusions:

  • Abnormal echocardiographic aortic elastic properties, including increased stiffness and altered distensibility, are evident in HCM patients.
  • Arteriograph-derived PWV and Aix are elevated in HCM patients, indicating impaired arterial function.
  • These findings suggest that vascular elastic properties are significantly affected in HCM and share similarities with hypertensive LVH.
Abstract

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